Oral History Program

Since 1997, the OHSU Oral History Program has conducted over 130 interviews with individuals who have contributed to university history. The subjects include OHSU employees and alumni, as well as legislators and policymakers.

Major themes include:

  • OHSU's evolution as an institution
  • Changes in clinical practice
  • Growth of the research mission
  • Changes in curriculum and educational programs
  • Growth of campus facilities
  • Contributions of women and people from historically underrepresented communities
  • Role of the OHSU community in world events

The oral history program is ongoing, and seeks to capture diverse perspectives on OHSU's contributions to health care, research, and education. OHSU Historical Collections & Archives directs the program with collaborative input from the university community. The program is funded by university administration, departments, and individual donors. To recommend someone to be interviewed, please contact us; to donate to support this program, please visit our support page to learn more.

We add transcripts of interviews to OHSU Digital Collections. Interviews are searchable by keyword. Transcripts may be downloaded directly as PDFs. Archival copies of recordings and transcripts are retained in HC&A. Copies of audio and video recordings are available according to our service fees.

Statement on harmful or offensive language in oral history interviews

OHSU Library presents oral history interviews as part of the historical record. They are the personal recollections and opinions of the individuals involved and, therefore, may contain language, ideas or stereotypes that are offensive or harmful to others.

Individual oral histories cannot serve as the sole source of historical information about an institution or event. These narratives should not be interpreted as the official history of Oregon Health & Science University, nor do they represent the views of the institution, past or present.

Other OHSU oral histories

In addition to our own oral history program, OHSU has recorded many oral history interviews via StoryCorps, a program of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Many of the interviews can be accessed online via the StoryCorps Archives.